Review: Vampire Diaries Season Finale – “Founder’s Day”

If you haven’t seen this series yet, one good reason to do so would be the finale. The Vampire Diaries has started out as a potentially sleepy drama with a supernatural twist. Twenty-one episodes later, it has proven to be so much more.

Elena Gilbert’s (Nina Dobrev) past is further revealed with the appearance of her birth mother, Isobel. The reunion was a major shocker in the episode – one with which the second season might be built on. Towards the end of the episode, Elena’s father is revealed as well.

The vampire brothers Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) are presented in a flashback that was a reverse of what their present personalities are. This may also be laying the groundwork for Damon’s newly found “humanity”, slowly shown towards the end – and might progress at the start of the next season. Most interesting of all is when the issue of a budding love triangle was finally brought up by Stefan, thanks to Isobel. Even with the past episodes, Damon would stand in a dark corner looking menacing but suddenly turn to goo when he sees Elena. No surprise there. Stay tuned for a very believable kissing scene in the last 10 minutes of the episode.

The main attraction of the town, and of the story, is Founder’s Day. Mystic Falls’ tradition of honoring the Founding Families and preserving their heritage is celebrated by locals dressing up in 16th century fashion. Of course, Elena is no exception. The look on Damon’s face seeing her as Katherine’s incarnation was priceless. On the darker side of things, this was the day when the bad vampires were going for the kill. Lives are lost, and some characters might not be seen again.

Another revelation is very suggestive of True Blood influence – when Mayor Lockwood and his son Tyler are suggested to be non-human, but non-vampire. Werewolves? Shifters? The second season will surely tell.